Which airline stocks are beating the rest in 2020?

10 air travel stocks that are winning despite COVID-19 restrictions.

Airlines have come under enormous pressure this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Air travel is on hold in many parts of the world as border restrictions remain closed and economies hole up to curb the spread of the virus.

Many analysts expect that air travel won't recover for some years. Back in August, the International Air Transport Association predicted that air travel wouldn’t return to pre-crisis levels until 2024. Others are hopeful of a sharp recovery once a vaccine is developed.

Paired with so much uncertainty about the future, airline stocks have become a drawcard for speculative investors. Since the market downturn started in March, many airline stocks have halved. Qantas (QAN) shares have dropped more than 40% this year, Air New Zealand (AIZ) is down 50% and Virgin Australia (VAH) shares have been suspended since the company entered administration in April.

Despite comparatively less stringent travel restrictions in the United States, US-listed airline stocks have faced similar price falls. Delta (DAL) shares are down 45%, United Airlines (UAI) are down 60% and American Airlines (AAL) are down 57% (YTD to 15 October).

But for some investors, the major correction in travel stocks has been a boon. Although most haven't recovered to pre-crisis levels, many airline stocks have staged an impressive recovery rally since March.

The rise of domestic tourism has left smaller, regional airlines in a comparatively strong position compared to some of their bigger global competitors that are more reliant on international or business travel. Budget Mexican airline Volaris (VLRS) has rallied more than 100% over the last six months as its rivals Aeromexico and Interjet face potential bankruptcy.

In Australia, Regional Express (ASX:REX) shares are in an even better position than they were 12 months ago (as of 15 October). Although far smaller than Qantas and Virgin, Rex has inked an investment deal with Asia Pacific financial firm PAG Asia Capital and plans to expand routes between Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

In the US, shares in regional budget airline Allegiant Air (NASDAQ:ALGT) have rallied by 60% in the last six months and the airline is flying at even higher capacity this year than it was in 2019, increasing its market share from 2% pre-pandemic to 4% post-pandemic.

The trends show that although major international airlines have been devastated by the pandemic, it's also left room for smaller more flexible players to make their mark. Below is a list of some of the best performing airline stocks over the last six months, some which may well find themselves in a better position than they were prior to the pandemic.

How to buy airline stocks

To buy airline shares online, you'll need to open a stock brokerage account.

It's worth noting that although many airline stocks are headquartered in various countries around the world, a good number are dual-listed in the United States. For example, Ryanair is headquartered in Dublin but it has dual listings on both the London Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ in the US.

US-listed stocks are typically easier to access and cheaper to trade from Australia than stocks listed on other global exchanges, which is a handy tip to remember.

If you're looking to buy US-listed airline stocks, you'll need to sign up with a broker that offers access to US stock exchanges, such as eToro. If you're interested in buying Australian-listed shares, you'll need to open an account with a broker that offers ASX stocks.

For more on trading shares, check out our comprehensive guide.

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